I'm lacking an intro today. Last night's featured just three basketball games, two of which went to overtime, and I barely watched the football game. I mostly read (to see what I read about, check my other blog) and fell asleep on the couch. Like an old person.

Blazers 95, Hawks 99: This might have been a "have they arrived" game for Portland, playing a very good Hawks team on the road. I'll go ahead and give them credit for having arrived just for taking the game to overtime, even if they blew a nine-point lead at the end of the third in getting there. Al Horford did his usual efficient work with a 15/10 on 7-10 shooting, and Jamal Crawford failed to show up, shooting 2-10 with no rebounds and one assist, but Joe Johnson made up for him with 35 points, albeit on 31 shots. All those shots and nine assists, and Johnson only turned the ball over three times, which is very nice. Rudy Fernandez led Portland with 19 points and four steals off the bench. Greg Oden picked up five fouls, but he played 34 minutes.

Bobcats 91, Magic 97: Stephen Jackson's Charlotte debut was very Captain Jack: 4-14 shooting, nine rebounds, two steals, four turnovers. Boris Diaw shot 10-13 and Flip Murray had 31 points off the bench (31! For Flip Murray!), but it wasn't enough to overcome Orlando's seven players in double-digits, including Dwight Howard who shot 4-5 but just 6-14 from the free throw line, and Jameer Nelson, who had 16/6/5 and three steals, but who is now hurt, out for four to six weeks. Jason Williams is going to have to step up. Rashard Lewis had ten points on 15 shots in his return.

Mavs 115, Bucks 113: This was the other overtime game. Dallas needed every bit of Dirk's 32/11, Drew Gooden's 22/14, and Jason Kidd's 9/10/17. That's right, Jason Kidd missed a triple-double by a point. The easiest category to get, and he couldn't get there. He shot 3-4 from three and 0-3 from two. Brandon Jennings shot just 8-22, but wound up with 25/7/8 anyway and Ersan Ilyasova had the game of his life off the bench with 19/12. Luke Ridnour added four steals as it looks like, by the minutes played, he and Jennings were on the floor together most of the night (Charlie Bell is the starting two-guard, but played 21 minutes to Ridnour's 34).